More than a weight-loss drug
GLP-1 receptor agonists were originally developed for type 2 diabetes. Then they revolutionized weight management. Now trials are showing benefits across an unexpectedly wide range of conditions.
What the trials show
- SELECT trial: 20% reduction in major cardiovascular events in non-diabetics
- FLOW trial: Slowed kidney disease progression in diabetics
- Early evidence: reduced alcohol cravings, decreased Alzheimer's biomarkers
What clinicians are watching
Long-term safety remains under study, particularly for muscle mass preservation and gallbladder side effects. For appropriate patients, the risk-benefit profile is increasingly favorable.
GLP-1s are not magic, but they may be the most consequential class of medications introduced in a generation.
